Keys from the Golden Vault

Ceilings

Interior areas have 15-foot-high ceilings, except in areas x and x–x, where the ceilings are 30 feet high.

Doors

All exterior doors are made of solid iron and are barred on the inside. As an action, a character can try to break down a barred door, doing so with a successful DC 25 Strength (Athletics) check.

Interior doors are made of iron and are unlocked unless the text states otherwise.

Extreme Heat

Creatures that spend 1 hour or more anywhere in the hold, or sail on the river of lava, are subject to the effects of extreme heat as described in the Dungeon Master's Guide.

Illumination

Lava bathes the outer areas of the hold in dim light even on starless nights, while most of the hold's interior areas are dimly lit by braziers of glowing coals. Exceptions are noted in the text.

Lava

The lava around the hold and in the harbor is 10 feet deep, while the stream of lava pouring from x is 2 feet deep. Any creature that enters lava for the first time on a turn or starts its turn there takes 55 (10d10) fire damage.

Outer Walls

The hold's 20-foot-thick curtain walls are faced with blocks of carved basalt and filled with a rubble core. The walls on the hold's lower level (bordering areas x and x) stand 40 feet high, while those on the hold's upper level (bordering x) stand 20 feet high. Crenellations rise another 3 to 8 feet. Scaling a wall without magic or climbing gear requires a successful DC 20 Strength (Athletics) check.

Towers

Tower walls are 15 feet thick, made of carved basalt, and studded with arrow slits. The towers on the hold's lower level (x and x) stand 60 feet high, while those on the hold's upper level (areas x and x) are 80 feet high. Towers have interior floors every 20 feet, with stone stairs along the inside walls leading between floors. Tower doors shown on the map allow access from ground level. All towers also have doors that open onto the walkways of adjoining curtain walls, as well as trapdoors that open onto the towers' roofs.

B1: Bridge

The bridge crosses the lava river at its narrowest point, spanning 300 feet and rising 30 feet above the river's surface. Constructed of heavy basalt blocks, the bridge's piers are plated with iron.

B2: Gatehouse

The banners are 20 feet long and emblazoned with Vrakir's symbol—a crown encircling the branches of a tree wreathed in flame—as well his motto, atka ignari (Ignan for "all shall burn").

Two erinyes are stationed on the rooftops of the towers closest to the bridge. If the characters approach the gatehouse and give a sound reason for being here, the erinyes open the way (see "Doors" and "Portcullises" below), escort the characters to x, and announce their presence to the salamanders in x before returning to their posts.

When the hold is on high alert, a third erinyes from x takes up position in the gatehouse's rear tower.

B3: Prison Tower

The erinyes stationed here carries a rope of entanglement, which it uses to ensnare any prisoner who tries to escape.

B4: Prison Yard

Eighty prisoners (commoners) labor here under the watchful eyes of ten duergar.

The duergar pay little mind to anyone they believe to be on legitimate business in the hold. However, they don't allow anyone to communicate with the prisoners unless ordered to by one of the efreet. The duergar issue a stern warning the first time anyone makes unapproved contact with a prisoner, and they turn hostile after a second instance, attempting to subdue and capture the offender.

Most of the prisoners are too fearful to speak with visitors, but one prisoner named Venture (chaotic good, tiefling gladiator) tries to get the characters' attention, seeing the party's arrival as a golden opportunity to escape. If the characters smuggle her some weapons, rope, and a grappling hook, Venture agrees to start a prison riot (see "Prison Riot" below).

B5: Inner Yard

Behind the door at the base of the stairs is a long tunnel that leads to areas x and x–x.

B6: Upper Yard

The upper yard is patrolled by a young red dragon named Kalimrax. The dragon guards the fortress against aerial assault, but attacks from the air are few and far between. Kalimrax spends most of her time prowling about the harbor, idly threatening to devour any dockhands working there.

Kalimrax finds her task incredibly dull and looks to the hold's occasional visitors to provide some interest. The dragon interrogates newcomers, hoping to hear something other than the same tales of conquest Vrakir's armies always tell. A character who succeeds on a DC 15 Charisma (Performance) check can command Kalimrax's rapt attention for up to 1 hour. The dragon threatens to eat any character who fails to hold her interest.

Kalimrax attacks any character she sees trying to enter the hold by stealth or by force, but she doesn't pursue characters into the hold's interior. If reduced to 50 hit points or fewer, Kalimrax retreats to her lair in x.

B7: Harbor

The harbor is primarily used by Klax's traders to make their regular supply runs. The traders unload their cargo onto the platforms suspended by the cranes, allowing for transport to the yard above.

B8: Cliff Towers

These two towers stand at opposite ends of the fortress's high rock platform. Each one can be described as follows:

One erinyes is on guard in each of these towers, occasionally leaving the tower to walk the battlements of the adjoining curtain walls. Each erinyes is hostile to anyone attempting to climb the outer walls but is otherwise indifferent to the goings-on in the yards below.

B9: Harbor Towers

Two erinyes guard access to the harbor, one in each tower. These guards are hostile to anyone attempting to enter or leave the hold via the river without Jarazoun's approval. The erinyes admit Klax and her traders after a cursory inspection of their cargo, although the erinyes become suspicious if the traders aren't following their usual schedule.

Each tower contains a large winch for raising and lowering the chain that controls access to the harbor. The chain is effective only if both sides are raised, and it takes 3 actions to fully raise or lower one end of the chain.

B10: Efreeti Face

The efreeti's mouth is the main entrance to the hold's interior and is primarily used by Vrakir and Jarazoun, who can easily navigate its 20-foot elevation above the yard. A steel chain ladder coiled in a corner of the efreeti's mouth can be lowered to allow access for non-flying creatures.

Above the carved efreeti face, a fissure in the volcano's slope leads into a small cave not visible from the stronghold below. Kalimrax lairs here, returning for a few hours every evening to rest and check on her hoard, which consists of the plunder Vrakir allows her to take as payment for her service.

B11: Guard Room

This small chamber is lit by a glowing brazier and furnished only with a pair of iron stools sitting next to a stone block that serves as a crude table.

Two duergar are always on guard here. They react with suspicion toward the characters, as visitors don't usually come through this area, and become hostile if the characters attempt to force their way to or from x.

B12: Secret Passage

This hidden corridor has a secret door at each end of it.

The duergar created this passage to access the cells in case the prisoners ever managed to take control of the prison yard. The passage has never seen use, and Brimstone Hold's other defenders don't know it exists. The secret doors at each end are readily visible from inside the hallway and don't require an ability check to find.

B13: Prison Cells

At night, twenty prisoners (commoners) sleep in these cells. During the day, the cells are empty.

B14: Large Prison Cell

A chaotic neutral ogre named Yug occupies this cell. For the past three days, Yug has been confined here for breaking a duergar's arm in anger over the theft of Gruk-Gruk, a crude rag doll.

Yug is initially wary of the characters but becomes talkative if they seem sympathetic to his plight. If the characters find and return Gruk-Gruk to Yug, the ogre happily aids them in any way he can.

B15: Erinyes Barracks

Three erinyes lounge in their hammocks here, resting between shifts patrolling the walls. The erinyes are immediately suspicious of the characters, as visitors don't usually come here. Unless the characters provide a compelling reason for their intrusion and succeed on a DC 20 Charisma (Deception or Persuasion) check, the erinyes try to capture the characters for questioning.

B16: Common Room

The duergar take their meals here. All but one of the barrels contain water. The last barrel holds dregs of sour beer.

B17: Kitchen

Two duergar are busily preparing the hold's next meal: tuber stew. They are arguing about how spicy the stew ought to be. If the duergar notice the party, they assume the characters are members of Klax's crew and start instructing them where to put the new supplies. Only if the characters ignore the cooks' instructions do the duergar become suspicious, attacking while shouting to the duergar in area B18 if the characters can't justify their presence.

B18: Duergar Barracks

Six duergar are sleeping here on the stone slabs that serve as their beds. They wear their armor and keep their weapons within arm's reach. The sound of normal movement doesn't wake them, but they are roused by the sounds of battle or other loud noises in areas x–x.

The duergar are alarmed if they wake to find the characters here and shout to the duergar in area B17. They demand the characters explain themselves and attack if the characters attempt to escape without giving an account of their presence.

B19: Storeroom

This is the fortress's primary storage area. Most of Klax's deliveries are carried here by the dockhands via the staircase from the outbuilding above (x). The supplies primarily consist of food, water, timber, rope, and raw iron.

B20: Salamander Barracks

Two salamanders rest in these barracks, their bodies coiled to nestle into the depressions in the solidified lava. If the characters aren't escorted by other members of the hold, the salamanders assume the characters are a threat and attack immediately.

B21: Storeroom

This storage area contains supplies for the efreet's chambers. The items are delivered by Klax's crew via the staircase from the outbuilding above (x).

B22: Antechamber

Two salamanders stand guard here along with a beholder known as the Eye of the Efreet. These creatures are hostile unless the characters arrive with an escort, in which case the characters are directed to area B23 to make an appointment to see Jarazoun. Once the characters proceed to x, the salamanders accompany them and remain there for the duration of their visit.

B23: Administrative Office

Nebukath the arcanaloth sees to the hold's administrative tasks. Nebukath is initially indifferent toward the characters and presumes they have come seeking an audience with Jarazoun. The arcanaloth languidly informs the characters that the efreeti is too busy to meet with them.

If the characters reveal their true purpose, Nebukath perks up and excitedly offers to aid them. The arcanaloth knows the routines of all the hold's inhabitants and can provide the characters with an alibi or escort if they need one. However, the terms of its magically binding employment contract prevent Nebukath from taking direct action against Vrakir, his forces, or his property (for example, by attacking the hold's defenders).

If Nebukath discovers the party's purpose, the arcanaloth follows them closely, waiting for the characters to steal the Book of Vile Darkness. Once the book is in the party's possession, the terms of Nebukath's contract no longer prevent the arcanaloth from seizing the artifact, and Nebukath attempts to steal the book from the characters.

B24: Nebukath's Chamber

When Nebukath isn't working in area B23, the arcanaloth rests here. A small brass bell attached to a rope in area B26 alerts Nebukath anytime they're needed by the efreet.

B25: Audience Chamber

[image: Jarazoun the Efreeti]

If he hasn't been encountered and defeated elsewhere, the efreeti Jarazoun sits on the throne, acting as master of Brimstone Hold in Vrakir's absence. Jarazoun has little patience for the business of running a stronghold and leaves most of the decision-making to Nebukath. The stronghold's denizens see Jarazoun for the petty tyrant he is, but they obey him out of fear of his patron, Vrakir.

If the characters come before Jarazoun posing as visitors with legitimate business at the hold, the efreeti treats them with indifference. He enjoys lording his power over petitioners and denies any requests the characters make dismissively, relenting only if plied with substantial wealth or flattery—a very rare magic item, 10,000 gp worth of treasure, or a successful DC 25 Charisma (Persuasion) check suffices.

If the characters insult Jarazoun or reveal their true purpose, the efreeti becomes hostile and shouts for the salamanders in x to apprehend the characters and imprison them in x. If the party resists, Jarazoun fights desperately, fearing Vrakir's wrath if the characters were to escape.

B26: Lounge

Jarazoun entertains favored guests here. The ruby liquid is firewine imported from the City of Brass. Any creature that drinks the wine gains 15 temporary hit points. The creature must finish a long rest before it can gain this benefit again.

B27: Vestibule

The doors to areas B28 and B29 are both locked. Jarazoun carries the key to area B28, while Vrakir carries the key to x. As an action, a character can use thieves' tools to try to pick either lock, doing so with a successful DC 20 Dexterity check.

B28: Jarazoun's Chamber

Jarazoun is usually here when he isn't conducting business in x or entertaining visitors in x.

B29: Vrakir's Chamber

The tome resembles the Book of Vile Darkness but is actually a trained mimic. Any character who examines the tome and succeeds on a DC 20 Intelligence (Arcana) check recognizes it as a fraud. The mimic attacks any creature that touches or attacks it.

The room's back wall appears solid but is the anchor for a magical doorway to area B30: the demiplane where Vrakir keeps the real Book of Vile Darkness. Anyone examining the wall using detect magic can see the outline of the door. The scorch marks and cracked masonry are due to the book's corrupting influence, which seeps out every time the doorway is opened.

The key to opening the door is the gemstone set in the wall carving. The gem is trapped with a 6th-level glyph of warding spell. The glyph casts disintegrate on any creature that touches the gem without speaking Vrakir's motto: atka ignari. While touching the gem, a creature can take an action to open the door to area B30 as if the creature had cast the demiplane spell; this causes the face in the wall to stretch its mouth wide as a shimmering gray portal appears within. Removing the gem from the wall causes the doorway to disappear, trapping anything in area B30 in the demiplane until the gem is replaced or someone else accesses the room with a demiplane spell.

B30: Vrakir's Demiplane

[image: The Book of Vile Darkness]

If the characters had a relatively easy time getting here, add two invisible nycaloths as guards. The nycaloths are mercenaries hired by Vrakir to protect the Book of Vile Darkness, and their invisibility spells end when they attack.